What is the one-world religion described in Revelation?

 

Five loaves and two fish.

In this particular instance, the five loaves of bread would stand for the five books of the Law of Moses, the Pentateuch. Similarly, the two fish would stand for the two tablets on which were written the ten commandments that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai.

When Jesus fed the multitude with five loaves and two fishes, most of us are led to ponder the miracle, to ponder how so many people could be fed by so little.

Some think the miracle is that people shared what they brought with the rest of the crowd, while others think Jesus physically multiplied the loaves and fishes to make sure the populace was well fed.

However, is this the right question to ask?

Is this the point we are to get from this story?

We are so led to read the stories as history and to ask historical questions, we ignore the broader picture. We ignore all the fine points we can learn from our holy stories.

The five loaves represents the five books of Moses, in which we find five refreshments for the soul.

The first loaf is the rebuking of sin by contrition; the second is the laying bare of sin in confession; the third is the abasement and humiliation in satisfaction; the fourth Is zeal for souls in preaching; the fifth is the sweetness of our heavenly home in contemplation.

The account of the Five Loaves and Two Fish is a significant miracle performed by Jesus Christ, recorded in all four Gospels: Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14.

This event is often referred to as the "Feeding of the Five Thousand," highlighting its importance in the ministry of Jesus and its impact on His followers.

The miracle takes place after Jesus and His disciples withdraw to a solitary place following the news of John the Baptist's execution.

Despite their desire for solitude, large crowds follow them, eager to hear Jesus' teachings and witness His healing power. Moved by compassion, Jesus heals the sick and teaches the multitude about the Kingdom of God.

This Sabbath day, the Church has put together readings to bring out connections that many of us would fail to see without a little help.

Just about every Christian has heard the story of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, in fact numerous times. But we’ve probably overlooked the fact that they were barley loaves. What significance could that have?

Plenty. First of all, someone in the Old Testament had multiplied loaves, and they too were barley loaves.

Elisha was the successor of Elijah, the greatest of all the prophets.

Elijah had multiplied flour and oil to save a widow and her son from starvation.

Elisha did a bit better than his master, multiplying 20 barley loaves so as to feed 100, with some even left over.

But in the Gospel, Jesus multiplies 5 barley loaves and feeds 5,000,

leaving 12 baskets left over. We’re talking serious one-upmanship here.

So here’s one clear message: Jesus is a prophet greater than even Elijah and Elisha.

But there is someone else who is referenced here, though you have to look a bit harder to see him.

Did anyone else in the Old Testament provide bread for God’s people in the wilderness?

Of course! Moses and the manna.

What is the symbolic number associated with Moses?

There are five books of Moses which are called the Torah or Pentateuch.

No wonder Jesus starts with five barley loaves.

He is transforming the Mosaic Law into something much bigger, greater, and more nourishing.

Moses predicted that God would raise up a prophet like himself (Deuteronomy 18:18).

The people got the point–Jesus had to slip away to avoid them making him king (John 6:14-15).

But let’s get back to those barley loaves. There is even more symbolism here to probe.

Barley is the first grain to be harvested in the spring, and the feast of unleavened bread celebrates the first fruits of the barley harvest.

Jesus performs this miracle as Passover approaches, and will go on later in John 6 to explain that he himself is the bread of life.

The miracle of the loaves points backwards to great events in the Old Testament to give us clues as to who Jesus really is.

But it also points forward to the future, to what Jesus will do in the upper room on the night before he died and which will made present again in every Eucharist.

The people recline where there is much grass, verdant pastures (Psalm 23), and the Good Shepherd, after giving thanks (eucharistia in biblical Greek) feeds them with rich fare that causes their cup to run over with blessings of not only earthly satisfaction, but eternal life.

How many baskets of scraps are left over? Twelve, the mystical number symbolizing God’s people.

Twelve tribes, twelve patriarchs, and now twelve apostles, the patriarchs of the New Israel gathering up the remnants of a feast that will be the new covenant meal of God’s new people, the celebration of their deliverance, the new food for the journey to the true promised land, heaven.